Abstract: A semi-resonant actuator assembly includes a resonating body comprising a piezoelectric plate having a first length, a first width, and a first thickness, and an inactive plate having a second length substantially equal the first length, a second width substantially equal to the first width, and second thickness. A thickness of the resonating body is provided by a sum of the first thickness of the active piezoelectric plate and the second thickness of the inactive plate.

Abstract: The disclosed haptic vibrotactile actuator may include a textile comprising a first major surface and a second, opposite major surface, an electrode coupled to the first major surface of the textile across at least a majority of a surface area of a first surface of the electrode, and a flexible electroactive material electrically coupled to a second, opposite surface of the electrode. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed haptic vibrotactile actuators on inflatable bladders may include an inflatable bladder and a flexible haptic vibrotactile actuator positioned on or in the inflatable bladder such that inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder alters a vibrotactile sensation induced by the flexible haptic vibrotactile actuator in response to activation of the flexible haptic vibrotactile actuator. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical transformer includes a light source and an array of photovoltaic cells optically coupled to the light source, where at least a portion of the photovoltaic cells are connected in series. An optical connector such as a waveguide or an optical fiber may be disposed between an output of the light source and an input of the array of photovoltaic cells. Configured to generate a high voltage output, the optical transformer may be configured to power a device such as an actuator that provides a tunable displacement as a function of voltage.

Abstract: The disclosed fluidic power transmission apparatus may include a conduit having an internal volume for containing a fluid, a reciprocating input mechanism for alternating at least one of fluid flow or fluid pressure within the conduit, the reciprocating input mechanism being in fluid communication with the internal volume of the conduit, and a slave unit coupled to the conduit such that the slave unit is positioned to be driven by the alternating fluid flow or fluid pressure within the internal volume of the conduit. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic medical system is described. The system comprises an external RF power transmitter configured to emit a first power signal via an electromagnetic coupling, said RF power transmitter being configured to emit said first energy signal with a power no greater than 1W. The system further comprises an implantable medical device comprising: at least one receiver antenna configured to receive said first energy signal via an electromagnetic coupling; an RF power receiver module configured to extract a second energy signal having a power of at least 1 mW and to be powered by said second energy signal; a power actuator module, operatively connected to the RF power receiver module, powered by said second energy signal. The power actuator module is configured to deliver a medical treatment to at least a target tissue of a patient on the basis of a control signal generated by the RF power receiver module.

Abstract: An electronic medical system is described. The system comprises an external RF power transmitter configured to emit a first power signal via an electromagnetic coupling, said RF power transmitter being configured to emit said first energy signal with a power no greater than 1 W. The system further comprises an implantable medical device comprising: at least one receiver antenna configured to receive said first energy signal via an electromagnetic coupling; an RF power receiver module configured to extract a second energy signal having a power of at least 1 mW and to be powered by said second energy signal; a power actuator module, operatively connected to the RF power receiver module, powered by said second energy signal. The power actuator module is configured to deliver a medical treatment to at least a target tissue of a patient on the basis of a control signal generated by the RF power receiver module.

Abstract: A stick-slip stage device includes a carriage assembly configured to support a payload, the carriage assembly comprising at least three piezoelectric stick-slip actuators each having one or more contact points. At least two rails are positioned on opposing sides of the carriage assembly and configured to interact with one or more of the contact points to form a guideway for movement of the carriage assembly. A fixed structure connects the at least two rails and is configured to generate a friction force between the at least two rails and one or more of the contact points of the at least three piezoelectric stick-slip actuators. A method of making a stick-slip stage device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A planar reconfigurable antenna that is capable of generating omnidirectional and directional radiation patterns over a wide frequency band or over multiple frequency bands includes a substrate, one or more pairs of conductive elements on at least one side of the substrate, a common RF feed point, and respective switches that selectively connects one or all of the conductive elements to the common RF feed point. An omni-directional radiation pattern is generated when all of the conductive elements are connected to the common RF feed point, while a directional radiation pattern is generated when only a pair of conductive elements on opposite sides of the substrate are connected to the common RF feed point. In the directional radiation mode, the conductive elements that are not connected to the common RF feed point act as a reflector for other conductive elements that are connected to the common RF feed point.

Abstract: A semi-resonant actuator assembly includes a resonating body comprising a piezoelectric plate having a first length, a first width, and a first thickness, and an inactive plate having a second length substantially equal the first length, a second width substantially equal to the first width, and second thickness. A thickness of the resonating body is provided by a sum of the first thickness of the active piezoelectric plate and the second thickness of the inactive plate.

Abstract: A method allows reconfigurable multi-element antennas to select the antenna configuration in MIMO, SIMO and MISO communication system. This selection scheme uses spatial correlation, channel reciprocal condition number, delay spread and average Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information to select the antenna radiation pattern at the receiver. Using this approach, it is possible to achieve capacity gains in a multi-element reconfigurable antenna system without modifying the data frame of a conventional wireless communication system. The capacity gain achievable with this configuration selection approach is calculated through numerical simulations using reconfigurable circular patch antennas at the receiver of a MIMO system that employs minimum mean square error receivers for channel estimation. Channel capacity and Bit Error Rate (BER) results show the improvement offered relative to a conventional antenna selection technique for reconfigurable MIMO systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reconfigurable antenna system (1), which comprises a plurality of antenna units (10) and does not employ phase shifters. Each antenna unit (10) is by itself a reconfigurable antenna having at least an active radiating element which is coupled to one or more passive radiating elements. Each antenna unit is provided with one or more variable loads (12) that can be electrically connected/disconnected to each other and with said antenna unit (10), to selectively configure the radiating properties of the system. A bias network (70) is adopted to bias the variable loads (12) and a control unit (80) allows controlling the operation of said bias network (70). Each active radiating element is fed by at least a feeding line (501) that provides it with a suitable polarization. Hence, the system can advantageously resort to multiple polarizations, each of them being provided by a same source.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a reconfigurable antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises a radiating structure comprising one or more first radiating elements and a secondary radiating structure, operationally associated with said primary radiating structure. Said secondary radiating structure comprises a plurality of second radiating elements that can be selectively electrically connected/disconnected to each other to vary the configuration of said secondary radiating structure, so as to vary the radiating properties of the antenna structure. The antenna structure also comprises first reactive loads, electrically connected between said primary and secondary radiating structures, and second reactive loads, electrically connected to said secondary radiating structure.

Abstract: Reconfigurable antennas in an ad-hoc network are provided where all nodes employ MIMO/SIMO/MISO communication techniques. Three types of reconfigurable antennas: Reconfigurable Printed Dipole Array (RPDA), Reconfigurable Circular Patch Antenna (RCPA) and Two-Port Reconfigurable CRLH Leaky Wave Antennas are used. The RPDA, RCPA and the CRLH Leaky Wave antennas have a different number of configurations as well as different degrees of pattern diversity between possible configurations. To effectively use these antennas in a network, the performance of centralized and decentralized antenna configuration selection schemes are quantified for reconfiguration at one or both link ends. The sum capacity of the network is used as a metric to quantify the performance of these antennas in measured and simulated network channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (1) for configuring a reconfigurable antenna system (100).

Abstract: An electronic medical system is described. The system comprises an external RF power transmitter configured to emit a first power signal via an electromagnetic coupling, said RF power transmitter being configured to emit said first energy signal with a power no greater than 1 W. The system further comprises an implantable medical device comprising: at least one receiver antenna configured to receive said first energy signal via an electromagnetic coupling; an RF power receiver module configured to extract a second energy signal having a power of at least 1 mW and to be powered by said second energy signal; a power actuator module, operatively connected to the RF power receiver module, powered by said second energy signal. The power actuator module is configured to deliver a medical treatment to at least a target tissue of a patient on the basis of a control signal generated by the RF power receiver module.

Abstract: A stick-slip stage device includes a carriage assembly configured to support a payload, the carriage assembly comprising at least three piezoelectric stick-slip actuators each having one or more contact points. At least two rails are positioned on opposing sides of the carriage assembly and configured to interact with one or more of the contact points to form a guideway for movement of the carriage assembly. A fixed structure connects the at least two rails and is configured to generate a friction force between the at least two rails and one or more of the contact points of the at least three piezoelectric stick-slip actuators. A method of making a stick-slip stage device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic medical system is described. The system comprises an external RF power transmitter configured to emit a first power signal via an electromagnetic coupling, said RF power transmitter being configured to emit said first energy signal with a power no greater than 1W. The system further comprises an implantable medical device comprising: at least one receiver antenna configured to receive said first energy signal via an electromagnetic coupling; an RF power receiver module configured to extract a second energy signal having a power of at least 1 mW and to be powered by said second energy signal; a power actuator module, operatively connected to the RF power receiver module, powered by said second energy signal. The power actuator module is configured to deliver a medical treatment to at least a target tissue of a patient on the basis of a control signal generated by the RF power receiver module.

Abstract: Reconfigurable antennas in an ad-hoc network are provided where all nodes employ MIMO/SIMO/MISO communication techniques. Three types of reconfigurable antennas: Reconfigurable Printed Dipole Array (RPDA), Reconfigurable Circular Patch Antenna (RCPA) and Two-Port Reconfigurable CRLH Leaky Wave Antennas are used. The RPDA, RCPA and the CRLH Leaky Wave antennas have a different number of configurations as well as different degrees of pattern diversity between possible configurations. To effectively use these antennas in a network, the performance of centralized and decentralized antenna configuration selection schemes are quantified for reconfiguration at one or both link ends. The sum capacity of the network is used as a metric to quantify the performance of these antennas in measured and simulated network channels.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a reconfigurable antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises an active radiating structure comprising at least an active radiating element, a passive radiating structure comprising at least a passive radiating element, a ground plane structure comprising at least a ground plane element and at least a first circuitry element to selectively electrically connect/disconnect said passive radiating element with/from said ground plane element. The ground plane structure comprises regulating means of the current distribution along said ground plane structure, when said antenna structure emits/receives an electromagnetic radiation.